Host Organization: Asociaciòn CDRO
CDRO (Asociación de Cooperación para el Desarrollo Rural de Occidente) is a Maya-origin organization formed by associations and enterprises from the communities that promote the integral development of the rural area of western Guatemala. It emerged in 1984 out of the need to restore the trust of community inhabitants through the unification of efforts by leaders, who are the main actors in identifying, formulating, managing, and executing their integral development projects.
It is desirable that the person has training or experience in social work, pedagogy, psychology, gender specialization, or a related field. They should know how to work in a team, listen, have a volunteering attitude, and preferably basic knowledge of Spanish; be responsible, organized, and able to relate to mixed groups in rural communities; know about human rights, gender-based violence prevention, sexual and reproductive rights, empowerment, and new masculinities. The ability to design materials, be proactive, organize events, and use digital tools is valued.
Activities the volunteer will support include:
- Designing community training modules.
- Developing curricula and educational materials on gender equality and violence prevention.
- Supporting workshops in rural communities and training various groups, including authorities and parents.
- Organizing training on new masculinities and conducting field visits to interact with community leaders.
- Participating in the strengthening of community care, especially for rural women.
- Collaborating in commemorative events related to violence prevention.
- Systematizing cases of empowered women and documenting activities and results.
- Establishing monitoring for the Equity and Complementarity Policy.
The work will be both in office and field, with two days off per month and 35 hours per week typically distributed as follows: 8 hours daily from Monday to Thursday and 3 hours on Friday.
Preferably, we are looking for a person with a degree or experience in communication and digital media. It is essential that they have teamwork skills, the ability to listen and engage in dialogue, and a volunteer attitude. It is important that they are responsible and organized. The person should have knowledge of general topics related to gender, education, and community dynamics. They should also be capable of creating audiovisual materials such as posters, spots, radio jingles, videos, and documentaries, and have training in media communication and marketing. Basic knowledge of Spanish is preferable.
The volunteer will support the strengthening of a Communication, Education, and Awareness System for indigenous communities by participating in the following activities:
- Developing educational and informational materials on community development, gender equality, and protection against violence.
- Raising awareness among women and men about rights and gender issues.
- Systematizing and disseminating success stories through various media channels.
- Developing workshops on the use of digital tools in designing communication materials.
- Designing templates for institutional communications.
- Creating audiovisual awareness materials.
- Preparing materials to increase the visibility of results.
The commitment will be 35 hours per week, typically distributed as follows: 8 hours daily from Monday to Thursday and 3 hours on Fridays, with two days off per month. Activities will be carried out in the office and with direct contact with local communities.
Training during the Opportunity:
Upon joining CDRO, volunteers follow a protocol that includes:
- Introduction to the CDRO team: for integration and support.
- Orientation about CDRO: explanation of objectives and projects.
- Visit to the communities: to meet direct collaborators.
The volunteer will develop skills in:
- Community creation and training.
- Promotion of change and gender equality.
- Civic competencies, intercultural awareness, problem-solving.
- Certified linguistic knowledge and understanding of the EU humanitarian context.
Competencies certified by Youth Pass.
ASPEm is an Italian NGO founded in Cantù in 1979.
Cooperation, interaction, and education for global citizenship are fundamental elements to address global challenges and promote a more just and sustainable world. ASPEm’s work is based on a combination of direct actions on the ground, awareness-raising, and advocacy. It collaborates with local communities, government institutions, and other organizations to promote positive and lasting change.